This dessert recipe for Decadent Cognac Apricots is nice served hot or cold.  It has only three steps and uses the microwave and the crock pot slow cooker.

You could substitute peaches if you like them better than apricots and use brandy instead of cognac.  If you don't like the taste of cognac or brandy then you can add more orange juice but I encourage you to use the cognac for a wonderful taste sensation and to make the dessert a little more special.

Decadent Cognac Apricots

1 tab brown sugar

1 cup water

2 teas honey

1/2 teas each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg

1 clove

1 tab each of lemon juice and orange juice

1 tab cognac (or brandy)

2 strips orange rind

29 oz (825 g) canned apricot halves

In a microwave jug dissolve the brown sugar and water for approximately 30 seconds.  Add the honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, juices and cognac.  Microwave another minute.  Stir well and add to crock pot base.  Add the drained apricots and stir through gently, trying not to break them up.  Cook on low for 2 hours and let cool in the crock pot.

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Tags: crock pot recipe, Decadent Cognac Apricot

This Beef and Red Wine Stew recipe is fairly easy to make and if you like big serves then it will feed 2 people.  It's not as easy finding recipes for two for the slow cooker so finding this one was like gold. You can vary it by adding mushrooms or bell peppers.  You can also swap the onions with leeks for a slightly different texture and taste.

Crock Pot Slow Cooker Beef with Red Wine Stew

1 lb (1/2 kg) steak cut into bite size pieces

flour to coat steak

2 tabs olive oil

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1 medium onion chopped

1 large clove garlic crushed

1 tab each chopped chives and parsley

1 small bay leaf

1 cup red wine of your choice

1 cup beef stock cube

1 tab instant gravy mix to thicken if required but recommended

Coat meat in flour and brown meat in oil.  Remove and put aside.  Add to the pan the onions, carrots and herbs and toss until softened a little.  Remove the vegetables and put into the base of the slow cooker. Place the meat on top of the vegetables.

Add the wine and stock to the pan and mix well together as this then combines the juices from the pan as well.  Pour into the crock pot slow cooker over the meat and vegetables. Put the lid on and cook on low for 6 hours.  Thicken with the instant gravy mix combined with a little water if you think the stew is too thin.

Serves 2 large servings or 3 medium ones.  I serve it with sweet potato mash but you can serve with rice or just some of your favorite crusty bread.  Get out your crock pot slow cooker and start cooking.

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Tags: beef and red wine stew, crock pot recipe, Crock pot slow cooker, Slow cooker

This apple and lemon sponge dessert recipe is perfect for pot luck parties and entertaining at home.  It is also an easy crock pot recipe even for the beginner cook so if you are looking for an easy dessert this is it.  You can cook and serve this dessert straight from your crock pot slow cooker or you can insert another dish into the pot and remove when cooked.  I cheat a little by using a cake mix for the sponge but if you prefer you can make your own.

Easy Crock Pot Apple and Lemon Sponge Dessert

1 packet butter cake mix

15 oz (440g) canned apple slices

3 tabs sultanas

1 tab grated lemon rind

2 tabs honey warmed

1 tab lemon juice

icing sugar (optional)

You need to make up the cake mix as per the directions on the packet.  They are all different so please follow this step correctly.  Place all the rest of the ingredients except the icing sugar into a large jug or bowl and mix together and combine well.  Spread the mixture over the greased base of the crock bot bowl or you can use Slow Cooker Liners for no mess afterward.

Spoon over the cake mixture and place several sheets of paper towel over the top, making sure that the towel doesn't touch the mixture.  Place the lid on the crock pot and turn to high and cook for 3 hours approximately.  Check to see if cooked as sponge will spring back at a touch.   Serve with a dusting of icing sugar and a dab of cream or ice cream.

Try this easy crock pot recipe and let me know what you think about the taste as I'm sure you will agree its pleasantly different, a bit of a twist on the standard apple sponge.  This is my favorite dessert recipe at the moment for the family or when I'm entertaining.

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Tags: crock pot recipe, Crock pot slow cooker, easy crock pot

Cooking breakfast in the crock pot slow cooker is easy and convenient if you are short of time in the morning.  Apple and date oatmeal is nice served on the weekend also when you have more time to enjoy your breakfast.  My crock pot cooks at a nice slow temperature but if yours cooks a bit fast (and you will know that from previous recipes) then you may have to reduce the time a little bit and you may need a little more liquid.

The advantage of making crock pot meals like this one is that your breakfast cooks while you sleep.

Apple and date oatmeal breakfast

1 cup regular oats

2 cups water

1 cup milk

1/2 small apple, chopped

1/4 cup chopped dates

1/2 teasp cinnamon

2 tabs brown sugar

1/4 cup walnuts

Add all ingredients to your crock pot except for the walnuts.  Turn your crock pot on to low and cook for 8 hours approximately.  Add the walnuts 5 minutes before and stir well through the oatmeal mixture.  Serve with extra brown sugar and milk.  Makes 4 servings.

Variations:  you can substitute the dates with sultanas, you can use honey instead of brown sugar, and you can leave out the walnuts if you want.  I like this apple and date oatmeal breakfast though just as it is.

For more recipes check out the great variety of crock pot recipe books at AMAZON.

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Tags: apple and date oatmeal breakfast, crock pot meals, Oatmeal

This chicken sweet and sour is one of my favorite recipes and it's easy to make too.  I used to make it in a casserole in the oven but now its easier to use the crock pot slow cooker I don't have to worry that it may boil over or whether the oven is too hot and it will burn on the bottom.  You should have all the ingredients you need in your pantry to make this recipe.  I used lovely legs but chicken legs can be used too. This crock pot slow cooker recipe also tastes good if you make it the day before and just heat and serve.

Chicken Sweet and Sour

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup vinegar

3 slices of fresh ginger, chopped (or 1/4 teasp ground ginger)

2 tabs soy sauce

1/2 teasp minced garlic

1 kg lovely legs chicken pieces

1 onion, cut into wedges

1/4 cup sliced shallots

1/2 cup canned pineapple chunks

1/2 cup thinly sliced carrot

1/2 cup red or green bell pepper (cut into squares or strips)

Heat the first 6 ingredients in a jug in the microwave until the sugar dissolves (about a minute).  Stir well and taste it and adjust by adding more  soy or sugar to your taste if you need to.  It should be tangy and take into account that the pineapple will sweeten it up as well.  Put the chicken in the crock pot slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients then pour the liquid from the jug over the chicken and vegetables.

Turn the crock pot on to high for 3.5 -4 hours or on low for 7 - 8 hours.   Thicken with cornflour about 10 minutes before serving.  Serve with rice or noodles.  This recipe will make 4 medium servings.

For more recipes like this check out the RECIPES section of this site.  Also check out Amazon as they have a great and large range of  Crock Pot Slow Cooker Cook Books.

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Tags: chicken sweet and sour, Cook, crock pot slow cooker recipe

This is an easy and simple crock pot banana cake recipe and you should have all the ingredients you need in your pantry or refrigerator.  I used my small crock pot but you can use a cake pan and place that in the crock pot if you wish.  The advantage of using the crock pot instead of the oven is that you can be cooking the main course in the oven and the dessert in the crock pot at the same time and the crock pot does not heat the kitchen up in summer either.

Simple Banana Cake Recipe

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1  3/4 cups Self Raising Flour

2 medium to large ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs

3 - 4 tabs milk

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and bananas.  Mix in flour and milk alternatively.  You may not need all the milk if you use large bananas.  Pour into a greased small crock pot or a 7-8 inch cake pan (place in crock pot).  You can also use Slow Cooker Liners to avoid any mess. Cover mixture with several pieces of paper towel and place on the lid securely.  Cook on high for 1 to 1.5 hours.  Check after an hour as my last cake cooked in that time.  This cake rises well and is quite moist.

Turn off the crock and let stand for about 10 minutes then turn out.  Lightly run a knife around the edge to release.  If using the cake pan do the same thing but remove the pan from the crock pot immediately and allow the 10 minutes to cool on the bench.   You can dust some icing sugar over the cake or ice with lemon icing or cream cheese frosting.  If using the frosting, keep leftovers in the refrigerator.

If serving as a dessert I like to place whole pecans on top of the mixture before cooking.  Use small ones or they will sink.  Alternatively you can mix them through before putting the mixture into the crock pot slow cooker.  Serve warm with ice cream or cream.

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Tags: Cake, crock pot recipe, simple banana cake recipe

I like pea and ham soup but this week I couldn't find any bacon or ham bones so I compromised and used bacon rashes instead with this recipe.   It worked out fine but I think I still would prefer the bacon bones.  I suppose in the end it is a matter of taste and what is available.

This pea, bacon and celery soup is super easy and so simple to make even the kids could make this crock pot meal.  Why not let them try it and give you a break from cooking.

Pea, bacon and celery soup

1 lb (500g) bacon (or ham) bones

1/2 lb (250g) split peas, soaked overnight

1 medium onion, chopped

6 cups vegetable stock

1 tab minced garlic

3 sticks celery finely chopped

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper

chopped parsley to garnish

Put everything in the crock pot and turn on to low and cook for 6 hours.  Remove bones and cut meat off and put aside. Remove a cup of the soup, making sure to include mainly the peas and celery but with only a little liquid, puree the rest and then add the reserved soup and meat back in, and stir well.  Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with toast, croutons or fresh bread rolls.  Serves 4.

note:  If you like a thicker soup you can add some cornflour at the end or even a small can of cream corn.

Experiment with your soup recipes to get the taste you and your family like.  You can't really spoil anything in the crock pot and soups make great warming meals on the weekend.  I also froze half the soup as we are only a family of two so that is another meal I have for the week sometime when I am busy.  Enjoy your crock pot meal!

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Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot meals, pea bacon and celery soup, Soup

If you are looking for a soup that is super easy to make and won't take as long as some recipes in the crock pot then this Chinese Crab and Corn Soup is perfect for you.  This recipe was given to me from a friend many years ago and I have adapted it to the crock pot.  This recipe does use canned products so I think of the soup as a kind of fast food substitute.  I like to use fresh ingredients when I can but eating this soup is still better for me than burgers or fried chicken. It is also easy to make for a late night supper.

Chinese Crab and Corn Soup

4 cups of chicken stock

15 oz (420g) can creamed corn

6 oz (170g) can crab meat, drained and flaked

6 shallots,  chopped

1 egg white, whisked

dash or two of soy sauce to taste

Add the first 3  ingredients to the crock pot and half of the shallots.  Stir well and turn on the crock pot slow cooker to low and cook for 1 - 2 hours.  Before serving add the egg and the soy sauce.  Sprinkle the remainder of the shallots over the top and serve with some crackers or toast.   If you like a slightly thicker soup then you can thicken with some cornflour. Serves 4.

I like this Chinese Crab and Corn Soup when I want a nice warming soup but have limited time and I hope you try it and enjoy  it too.  To top it off it's probably one of the easiest soups I make as well.

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Tags: Chinese crab and corn soup, Crock Pot, recipe

I'm a meat girl and I just love having a beer....Jill Goodacre

Looking for an easy crock pot meal?  Then this Beef  'n Beer Casserole recipe is for you.  This is  a recipe where you just put all the ingredients into the crock pot slow cooker and stir it occasionally during cooking.  Nothing really can go wrong with it, so if you are a novice cook this is the beef recipe for you.   Put it up and put it on in the morning and your dinner is cooked when you come home from work.

Beef  'n Beer Casserole

2 1.2 lbs of topside other steak, cut into chunks

1 cup beef stock

3/4 cup beer

3 tabs tomato puree

1 tab minced garlic

1 carrot and onion chopped

1 stick celery chopped

bouquet garni *

sprinkle of oregano

Place all ingredients into crock pot and cook on low for 8 - 10 hours. Stir once or twice only and thicken with a little flour or gravy mix 15 minutes before serving. Remove bouquet garni and serve with vegetables and rice or mashed potato.  This beef n' beer casserole serves 4 servings.

As there are only 2 of us I freeze half the quantity and have it for another meal later in the week.  If I am in a hurry I can then just defrost it, heat and serve with crusty bread for a quick meal.

* bouquet garni - I make my own by tying together a bay leaf, some parsley stalks and a sprig of thyme.

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Tags: beef casserole, beer and beef, Crock Pot, crock pot recipe

I want to share with you a healthy vegetarian soup from Get Anxiety Help which is great for lunch or dinner on the weekend.  This soup converted easily to the crock pot.  It is so good for you and tastes just great.  Want a delicious and healthy vegetarian soup, then this is it.

Carrot and parsnip soup Crock Pot style

1 teaspoon oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 large parsnip, coarsely chopped

3 large carrots, coarsely chopped

4- 6 cups of vegetable stock

2 stalks celery (include the leaves), chopped

pinch of thyme

pinch salt and black pepper to taste

Parsley to garnish (optional but recommended)

Method:

Heat a big heavy based pot , add oil and heat. Add onion and cook until transparent then add the carrot, parsnip, celery and stock and thyme.  Transfer to the crock pot and cook on low for 4 - 6 hours.  Add salt and black pepper to taste.  Blend half of the soup and add back to the pot to give a thicker consistency.

Serve steaming hot with crusty bread a generous garnish of finely chopped parsley.

Serves 4 people

I love soups, and regular recipes convert with a minimum of change.  You can also skip the first part of browning the onion and vegetables and add them straight to the crock pot (slow cooker) if you want to cut out the fat altogether.

If you want some more recipes I have a free soup recipe ebook that I am giving away, so see the top part of the page to get your copy.

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Tags: Carrot, crock pot soup, vegetarian soup